The humble local - at the heart of the community for decades.

There was a time was when you would find a pub on most street corners.

They were meeting places, community centres, places to debate the issues of the day and somewhere to meet your friends.

Going ‘down the pub’ was often the number one social activity and ‘a quick one after work’ was very much part of many a routine working day.

Changes in licensing laws and resulting changes in drinking habits have meant that many of these small, no frills establishments have closed.

The Argus: We have some brilliant pubs in Brighton. Can you remember the ones that have closed?We have some brilliant pubs in Brighton. Can you remember the ones that have closed?

Looking back over the previous centuries, with a little help from the archives of The Lost Pubs Project, we can uncover amazing stories of pubs which had their day, before shutting their doors for good.

There are terrific tales of pubs dating back as far as the 18th Century.

Take the Carlton Arms, in Carlton Hill, which shut its doors for good in 1951.

The building is now used as a restaurant, but the pub opened in around 1743 under the name Italian Arms.

It has since had different leases of life as a tearoom, bookshop and sweet shop, before being restored in 1976 for its current use.

The Lost Pubs Project also details a brief story of The Flowing Steam, in Newhaven Street, which closed in 1953 and is now in residential use.

The publican in 1891 was Maria Woolgar, with her nephew William King as barman.

It was known as the house of the dancing bears, with seamen bringing bears ashore to dance in the pub.

Here is the full list of the former pubs in Brighton, as catalogued by The Lost Pubs Project:

And here are some of those listed above that we have pictures for:

Alliance Tavern, 140 Edward Street

The Argus:

The Dolphin Inn, 66 North Road​

The pub was situated at 66 North Road. Now in retail use, the name can be seen on the parapet. Closed c. 1971

The Argus:

The Dog Tray, Edward Street 

Was situated on Edward Street, closing in the 1980s, and subsequently being demolished. This pub was built c.1936.

The Argus:

The Flowing Stream, 22-23 Newhaven Street

Closed in 1953. The publican in 1891 was Maria Woolgar, with her nephew William King as barman.

The Argus:

The Free Butt, 1 Phoenix Place

This pub closed in 2010.

It was once the brewery tap of Tamplins Brewery and is now used as a club.

The Argus:

The Hampden Arms, 12 Hampden Road

This pub was present by 1881 when Walter Akehurst was publican.

It closed c.1970 and was converted to residential use.

The Argus:

The Little Globe, 153 Edward Street

This pub is now in commercial use.

The Argus:

The Snipe, 189 Carden Avenue

This pub has now been demolished with a Sainsburys Local store built on the site.

The Argus:

The Wick, Gloucester Road

This pub closed in 1974.

The Argus:

  • How many do you remember? Are there any other pubs you want to add to the list?